Obama notifies Congress on new round of Iraq airstrikes

The White House said Monday that its latest airstrikes in Iraq are “consistent” with prior military missions the White House has authorized to date in Iraq -- “to protect U.S. personnel and facilities and to address the humanitarian situation on the ground.”

The White House said Monday that its latest airstrikes in Iraq are “consistent” with prior military missions the White House has authorized to date in Iraq -- “to protect U.S. personnel and facilities and to address the humanitarian situation on the ground.”

In his latest War Powers Resolution sent to Congress, President Barack Obama said he had authorized U.S. Armed Forces to conduct targeted airstrikes in support of an operation to deliver humanitarian assistance to the town of Amirli, where thousands of Shia Turkomen have been cut off from receiving food, water, and medical supplies for two months by the Islamic State.

The U.S. Air Force delivered aid to the town, alongside aircraft from Australia, France and the United Kingdom, which also dropped supplies.

The operation to support the enclave of Amirli, represents a major expansion of U.S. military involvement in the Iraqi crisis that began when the militants overran much of northern and central Iraq in early June.

These White House said the operations are “limited in their nature, duration, and scope” and are being undertaken in coordination with and at the request of Iraq’s government.